Jesus + Nothing = Everything: A Study of Galatians
Class #4: Galatians 3:1-14
“Christians think that we are saved by the gospel, but then we grow by applying biblical principles to every area of life. But we are not just saved by the gospel, we grow by applying the gospel to every area of life.” –Dick Kaufmann
Review of Last week
Intro:
I. Justification Revisited
15We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners;16yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
17But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!18For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.19For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.21I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Westminster Shorter Catechism Question #33.
What is justification?
Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
‘To condemn’ is to declare somebody guilty; ‘to justify’ is to declare him…righteous. In the Bible it refers to God’s act of unmerited favor by which he puts a sinner right with himself, not only pardoning or acquitting him, but accepting and treating him as righteous.” -John Stott
“To justify” in the Bible means…to declare…of a man on trial, that he is not liable to any penalty, but is entitled to all the privileges due to those who have kept the law.” -J.I. Packer
It is the doctrine of justification that made luther say “if we lose this we lose everything.”
II. Sanctification: What was started by faith continues by faith
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?4 Did you sufferso many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—
-v. 1-Who has bewitched you? They have changed from the original message.
-Back to the beginning:
The message: It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.
What does Paul mean: It was before your eyes the JC was publicly portrayed as crucified?
This was the message that changed everything.
The announcement of the gospel…What happened.
Not, what to do, what he did.
The accepted Result: v. 2- They received the Spirit.
-He is not questioning whether they are believers, just taking them back to the basics to correct where they went wrong.
The response that led to the result: v. 2 Was it faith or works?
Lead into comparison of Justification and sanctification.
The basic question they were answering is how does one grow?
Q; What are basic ways people mess this up?
You get in by grace through faith, you grow through works and observing the law.
NO.
You get in by grace, you grow by grace.
You get in by faith, you grow by getting more faith.
Westminster Shorter Catechism Question #34.
What is Sanctification?
A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
Back to the chief end of man…Based on our understanding of santification…
How do we go about glorifying God more, and enjoying God more?
It can only be achieved by us getting more faith.
We need more faith.
That cannot be manufactured, it is only a gift of grace.
Drag more out of verses 3-5
Quote on top of page:
“Christians think that we are saved by the gospel, but then we grow by applying biblical principles to every area of life. But we are not just saved by the gospel, we grow by applying the gospel to every area of life.” –Dick Kaufmann
What does this mean about the emphasis of the christian life?
Pursuit of more faith.
Applying the gospel
Abandoning self effort.
So, getting practical, What are ways that we can apply the gospel to everyday life?
6just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”9So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Why does Paul use Abraham here and other key places when talking about justification?
Faith was credited as righteousness.
Not his faith made him righteous.
Luther: Simul Justus etpeccator “simultaneously righteous and sinful.”
How is Abraham’s salvation a clear picture of salvation by faith alone?
Abraham believed in the promise of God’s provision not his performance.
The promise could only be fulfilled by God, Abe couldn’t fulfill the promise.
The covenant made (going between the animals) reinforced that fulfillment was dependent upon God, not Abe.
How was the gospel preached to Abraham?
Not just believing there is a God.
III. The Gospel: Jesus Redeems us from the curse of the Law
10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”12But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
To live by something is to rely on it for happiness and fulfillment.
What we live by is the bottom line in our lives.
What gives us meaning, confidence, value and definition.
Important to ask ourselves the question what do I live by?
What are common things people live by in today’s society?
Jobs,
Kids
Money
Comfort,
The gospel is the only thing that can always deliver what it promises to deliver.
Jesus Says I will never leave you nor forsake you.
How does Paul make clear, to live life by the law is a curse?
Deut 27:26‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
To live our lives by anything else is to live life under a curse.
Q: How does living life by anything other than the gospel end up as a curse?
Everything else gets us in a bad spot.
Why is the cross a central focus a life that is lived by faith? Central in a historical way and also contral in a daily ongoing way?
Bc that is where Jesus became a curse for us.
Theological term=Double imputation.
He gets the curse we deserve
ILL: Song: “How deep the father’s love for us.
How Deep the Father's Love For Us
S. Townend
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr's, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
This is the gospel,
This is our glory,
This is the only thing that we are to live our life by.